Lovin the Holidays

I can't believe it's been three months. It feels like yesterday since I last updated our blog. I really should be better. Some of you are quite inspirational in your efforts. Our camera is broken so I don't really have pictures to update with but we have been taking a lot of videos. I will have JP download one on here when he gets a chance. Things have been good on our end. Our biggest news is that we are new home owners. We actually moved in sometime in September but I haven't had a chance to really sit down and write about it. We feel so blessed and are loving it! It couldn't be a more perfect fit for our family. Corbin loves having his own room and sleeps like a dream in it. Kayla.... well lets just say she doesn't sleep like a dream, but we're getting there. JP and I really aren't night people so that whole crying it out thing has never worked for us. The kids are so dang cute! And growing up so fast.

Kayla stands up on everything now and is trying to take steps. She'll actually just stand up without holding on to anything and stand there for awhile. She is getting so close. Her hair is still slow on coming but she is gorgeous all the same without it. She is such an easy going little girl who smiles all the time and just wants to be loved or be loving. If you ask for a kiss she open mouth slobbers you. Its....slobbery.... but too cute. She loves saying Uh oh for absolutely no reason. Kayla is developing an incredible singing ability... the problem is she only practices when its quiet in church. Relief Society is her favorite because she gets the most attention from all the women. Oh and why i buy her toys I don't know. She is thoroughly entertained with a piece of hair. I'm not kidding. She will grab a piece of my hair and sit and pull and play with it for an hour. It's crazy.

Corbin is going 24/7. You think a cold winters day might slow him down, but no. He has an amazing imagination and creates fun out of nothing. He is 100% boy!!! And he says the funniest things. We are watching my Mom's dog for her (by the way we no longer watch dogs for people unless they are potty-trained - love you mom) She peed and pooped on the floor and I spanked her and put her outside. The next time I put her outside I was telling her through the glass you don't get to come in til I see you go outside. Corbin comes and stands by me and says you can do it Luna. Finally she did. Corbin got so excited and when I let the dog in Corbin ran up to her and gave her a big hug and said "we're so proud of you Luna". I couldn't help but laugh. That is exactly what we told Corbin when he was potty trained. Smart little guy. He still likes to play with my ears as I put him to sleep. I absolutely love it! If he does something bad he says "I'm sorry.. I'll be a real good boy" because he doesn't want to get in trouble. One of my favorite times of days is saying prayers at night. You never know what he is going to bless or be thankful for. Every night he blesses his Auntie Becca and her two daughters Sienna and Mylee. Then it goes to Santa clause, elfs, his friends, his cousins, his corn, shoes, books, etc.... sometimes I see him looking around the room to see what to bless next. When we say the prayer he just keeps saying Amen to try and make it end. He is full of adventure and excitement.

We couldn't love our children more. I won't lie we are often drained emotionally and physically, but it couldn't hurt better. We are grateful for the memories and love of our children.

I know this is a novel because I never write and when I do I try to catch so much up. If anything it is for my own records. But before ending I wanted to make mention of my brother TJ. I do so gently because it is a very tender subject and he is more of a private person. For the last two months my little brother TJ has been facing major migraines, anxiety, and sleep apnea. The pain is so great that he can't keep any solid food down. When he tries to eat he begins vomiting violently. He has been from doctor appointment to doctor appointment, and is currently in the Mayo clinic in AZ with my parents. We are hoping they will be home for Christmas but don't know if it will happen. I tell you this not because I am looking for sympathy, although any prayers are welcomed. But because I feel that there has been allot to learn from this experience. I have watched my mother and father fight harder than I have ever seen them for the life of my brother. TJ has wanted to give up many times, but my parents through sleepless night after sleepless night won't leave his side. They take shifts watching and tending to his every need. JP was out of town the other night so my Mom slept with me at my house, in the morning my Dad showed up early to come see her.. He brought her a drinky(short for diet coke) It was like I wasn't in the room when they wrapped in each others arms. I felt the exhaustion and pain that they have been going through, and it brought me to tears. I remember well when I lost my first husband Trent.. The first day was a blurr and I don't even remember falling asleep, but when I woke up at 4 in the morning I couldn't move. As I looked around me I realized I couldn't move because all 5 of my siblings were asleep next to me with arms and legs wrapped all around me, and my parents curled up in each others arms at the head of the bed. I'll never forget at one of my lowest moments in my life how I was filled with so much hope from the love and support of my family. My point for telling you all this is that this Christmas I can't help but think of the love, sacrifice, patience, and enduring love of my parents and the importance of family. None of us know when our journeys here will be done, but we should live life savoring each moment. It is easy to get caught up in the struggle and catch ourselves saying I can really begin living when...... but instead being happy today. Taking our pains, struggles, and even our greatest joys and realizing its all part of the journey. True happiness, I believe, comes from faithfulness to God's commandments, and coming unto Christ. I am so grateful for my family, the gospel in all its entirety, my husband and children, all of the blessings the Lord has given to me, and most especially this season for my brother TJ. I love him and know that we will win this fight. I love Christmas time and hope this season we might embrace all that life has to offer..... beginning with family.